TheParavur Estuaries are a group of estuaries inParavur,India, near the South-Western coast ofKollam district,Kerala.[1] Paravur is one among the 4 municipal towns in Kollam district, Kerala state. The place is known for its natural beauties, backwater locations, white-sand beaches and concentration of temples.[2]
Paravur is a land of beaches, backwaters & estuaries. TheParavur landmass's three sides are surrounded by water bodies -Paravur Lake, Nadayara Lake and theArabian Sea.Paravur Lake is the main body of water in the town area, having a catchment area of 6.62 km2. The peninsula ofParavur is one of the most visited areas inKollam district. Both north and south tips ofParavur town have peninsulas and estuaries.Pozhikara is to the north andThekkumbhagam is to the south ofParavur.[3][4] One more estuary mouth is inPozhikara, which is very close toPozhikara Devi Temple, which has breached in 2014 under the supervision of Water Resources Department (WRD), after a long gap of 14 years.[5]
The estuaries can be reached by travelling throughKollam-Paravur Coastal Road andParavur-Kappil-Varkala road.[6][7][8] The 600 hectarePolachira Wetland is also close toParavur.[9]
Pozhi is a natural phenomena of formation of a sand bar along the coast separating sea and backwaters in the peninsula areas during summer season but which erode during the monsoon season, allowing the sea to be merged with the backwaters. Paravur backwaters' on both the north (Thanni beach) and south ends (Thekkumbhagam beach) havePozhi. Both meet theArabian Sea in the district's beach faces. There is an artificial tidal-regulator in the spillway bridge atPozhikara estuarine area, constructed in 1957 to control the salt water intrusion intoParavur Lake.[10] This phenomenon provides abundant water for people living in the Grama panchayats ofIthikkara,Velinalloor,Pooyappally,Adichanalloor, parts ofPoothakkulam,Polachira,Mayyanad,Chirakkara,Chathannoor, Elakamon,Edava and theParavur municipal area.[11]
Paravur Lake is a lake inParavur,Kerala,India.[12] Although it is small, with an area of only 6.62 km2,[13] it is the end point of theIthikkara River and part of the system of lakes andcanals that make up theKerala Backwaters. It has been connected toEdava andAshtamudi Kayal as part of theTrivandrum - Shoranur canal system since the late 19th century.
